polymorphous

English

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] New Latin polymorphus, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Ancient Greek πολύμορφος (polúmorphos, “multiform, manifold”), from πολύς (polús, “many, much”) + μορφή (morphḗ, “form, shape”).

Adjective

polymorphous (comparative more polymorphous, superlative most polymorphous)

1. Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles
   • 1907, Anon translating Alfred Binet, The Mind and the Brain Book III Chapter II

     Idealism is an exceedingly complex system, varying much with varying authors, very polymorphous, and consequently very difficult to discuss.

2. (biology) Having, or occurring in, several distinct forms
   • 1913, R. Chodat in Popular Science Monthly Volume 82 Janauay 1913, A Grain of Wheat

     In order to establish itself in any locality a plant must hold its own against competitors which, masters of the soil from time immemorial, have been selected to fit the soil and climate. Moreover, emmer is not cultivated anywhere in Palestine. This wild wheat is furthermore a different plant from any known in cultivation, a polymorphous race, no doubt, but a distinct one.

3. (chemistry) Crystallizing in two or more different forms; polymorphic

Synonyms

• (having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles): multiform, polymorphic, protean; See also Thesaurus:multiform

Antonyms

(in biology): monomorphic

Related terms

• polymorph
• polymorphic
• polymorphism

Translations

Having, or assuming, a variety of forms, characters, or styles

• Bengali: বহুরূপী (bohurupi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Finnish: monipuolinen (fi), monimuotoinen (fi)

Having, or occurring in, several distinct forms

• Finnish: polymorfinen
• French: polymorphe (fr)
• Italian: polimorfo (it)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Portuguese: polimorfo
• Spanish: polimorfo

Crystallizing in two or more different forms; polymorphic

• Finnish: monimuotoinen (fi)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Irish: ilchruthach, polamorfach

References

• “polymorphous”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “polymorphous”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “polymorphous”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.